Safety & Compliance

Drivers Risk Losing Their CDL for Synthetic Marijuana Use

Truck drivers who use synthetic marijuana or are caught possessing it, risk losing their Commercial Drivers License for one at least one year.

Spice is synthetic marijuana that combines herbal and chemical ingredients.

New temporary regulations from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration taking effect Feb. 10 will classify synthetic cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug, according to Landline.com. This rule is expected to be made permanent once it goes through the usual federal rulemaking process.

Currently, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations prohibit the use of Schedule 1 drugs while behind the wheel of a commercial motor vehicle. Schedule 1 drugs are those classified by the federal government as having no current medical use but have a high potential for abuse.

First time trucking offenders face up to a one-year loss of their CDL for a first time conviction, while hazardous materials haulers face a three-year suspension for a first time conviction. Second offenses can result in a lifetime trucking ban.